Yet again, Glasgow experienced a rise in the number of passengers transiting the airport with October`s International traffic up 8.3% and Domestic up 2.4%. A large amount of construction work is ongoing with car parks receiving attention and a road near the Loganair hangar being re-aligned to accommodate at least one new aircraft stand. There is a great deal of speculation that the extra space will enable Emirates to operate their A380s on the Glasgow - Dubai service but, with additional ground-handling requirements and no official confirmation from either the airport or airline, that could still be a long way off.

With regard to announcements, the Flybe / Loganair franchise is due to come to an end in August 2017 as Flybe have decreed that the partnership is no longer viable. This means that Loganair will take to the air in its own right for the first time in almost a quarter of a century. Scotland’s Airline has operated its services under franchise agreements with British Airways, from 1993 to 2007, and latterly with Flybe from 2007. The development should see Loganair providing over 1,000 flights each week across 46 routes, offering unrivalled connectivity for Scotland with operations stretching as far afield as London, Norwich, Manchester, Dublin, and Bergen in Norway. The airline has almost 300 flights each week to and from Glasgow, and is the largest operator at key airports throughout the Highlands & Islands including Inverness, Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway. ​

A `post-independent company` colour-scheme has been agreed so there will be a great deal of repainting and at least a couple of coats of tartan paint will be needed when covering each of the Flybe purple-liveried Saab 340s! I take it that whoever came up with the new Loganair design is a closet Bay City Rollers fan - "Shang-a-Lang!"

Receiving far more media attention was the official approval of the long awaited Tram-train link. The chosen version, which if it does actually go ahead won`t be ready until 2025, will transport passengers from Glasgow Central Station to the airport terminal via Paisley Gilmour Street in just over 16 minutes. Current estimates for the work are put at £144m.

It wasn`t until the second half of the month that wintry weather arrived. Although no snow fell on the airport, or the immediate area, the surrounding hills had a dusting on occasions and the tops of the mountains beyond Loch Lomond had a decent covering. Freezing fog resulted in Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs) being put into place several times but, as far as I`m aware, there were no weather-related diversions.

When fog blankets the Clyde Estuary but the forecast is otherwise good, it`s worth heading for the hills - apart from the fresh air, exercise and the views, which are often spectacular, there`s a good chance of catching some aircraft above the murk if you have a decent telephoto lens. The best vantage points are either the Gleniffer Braes if Runway `05` is in use, or the Kilpatricks for `23`. Pictured above on approach is A6-EGO, the first of the day`s two Emirates Triple-Sevens on Friday 25th, just seconds before the airliner dipped out of sight. Tinto Hill near Lanark is in the background.

Our feathered friends were causing problems again this month with geese, swans, pigeons and starlings all keeping the Airfield Ops personnel busy while forcing them to run up a hefty bill for the numerous bird-scaring flares fired off, usually in vain. More often than not flocks would just be temporarily dislodged and come to roost at another spot inside or close to the perimeter which still gave Air Traffic Control and pilots cause for concern. Judging by the shot of the Aer Lingus ATR below, it looks as if at least one crow isn`t content with winding up the airport staff and has taken to racing the aircraft when they appear on finals!

Jet Airliners

​Titan Airways Boeing 737-33A(QC) G-POWC brought Celtic FC back from Germany on Wednesday 2 November after their Champions League match against Borussia Monchengladbach. The aircraft touched down late afternoon. Ryanair Boeing 737-73S(WL) EI-SEV and a pair of Jet2 737s, G-JZHH and G-JZHE, returned with the Glasgow club`s fans.

Iberia Airbus A330-302 EC-LZJ brought Barcelona FC to Glasgow on the 22nd for their Champions League game against Celtic at Parkhead the next day.

​Due to overnight runway resurfacing at Glasgow International, three flights connected with the Celtic v Barcelona match, which would have normally came here went to Prestwick instead: Airbus A320-214(WL) EC-MAI and A320-232(WL) EC-LVV, both Vueling Airlines, brought fans and Iberia A330-302 EC-MAA touched down just before 22:00 hrs, to collect the victorious Spanish team. Two goals against the home side meant Celtic are now out of the competition so we`ll have to wait until well into next year before the prospect of any significant European football-related traffic.

Air Transat Airbus A310-308 C-GLAT lining up for take-off on Thursday 3 November.

Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS(WL) EI-DHR.

This month saw another brand new Boeing 737-8KN(WL) on delivery from the Boeing factory at Seattle, to Flydubai in the United Arab Emirates. A6-FGG arrived at Glasgow about 08:40 hrs on Tuesday 29 November and took off again at 22:20 hrs. Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan was its next stop en route.

Boeing Triple-Seven A6-EGK worked the first Emirates flight of the day on the 15th.

Boeing 777-31H(ER) A6-EGO worked the day`s first Dubai / Glasgow flight on the 18th.

Wizz Air Airbus arriving from Budapest on the 5th.

Yet another view of FC Barcelona`s taxi on the 22nd.

Although the fog had lifted, it was still around -4 C degrees when A6-EPM arrived about 11:00 hrs on Thursday 24th.

This winter, Air France will be substituting some HOP! Embraer ERJ-190STDs in place of the carrier`s larger Airbus A318 and A320s which flew between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Glasgow throughout the summer. The first ERJ-190 of the winter season to arrive here was F-HBLG, pictured above just before touchdown on Monday 28 Novemberon AFR1056 / AFR 1057. It was also this particular aircraft`s first appearance at Glasgow. F-HBLE made its inaugural visit here on the 30th.

Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules (L-382G) N3755P flew in from Frankfurt–Hahn Airport on Sunday 13 November and night-stopped, departing at 11:25 hrs on the 14th for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The aircraft had been one of the Prescott Support fleet, but with no Prescott titles and a different tail logo, I`m not sure whether this is still the case. It also called up with its registration rather than a company ID.

On Monday 28 November, Prescott Support CASA CN-235-300 N768KD, routing Stuttgart-Keflavik, arrived at 10:30 hrs and stopped for fuel. The aircraft was airborne again a hour later. ​

The pilot and passengers of R-66 Turbine G-OHAS jump on board while Triple-Seven A6-EPI taxis past.

Military & Government

​USAF Hawker Beechcraft C-12C Huron 76-0160 made its first visit in the afternoon of Tuesday 15th, using the call-sign `Titus 52`. It took off at 16:00 hrs only to return a couple of hours later due to a de-icing problem. It`s seen here outside the Gama hangar on the 16th, about to taxi out for departure. Another Huron, this time a US Army C-12F serial number 84-0157, stopped in briefly around midday on Monday 28th. The aircraft used the call-sign `Duke 63`. Apart from RAF BAe 146-200QC ZE708 on Friday 4th, there were no other military visitors during November. ​

One of November`s highlights movement-wise was Gulfstream IV TC-GAP which arrived about 17:30 hrs on Friday 18 November and stayed until 17:00 hrs on Sunday 20th. ​This aircraft is one of the Turkish Governments`s VIP fleet which is managed by Turkish Airlines on behalf of the President of the Republic and Prime Minister. The fleet primarily consists of Airbus A319-115(CJ) TC-ANA and a highly modified Airbus A330-243 Prestige TC-TUR which is equipped with advanced electronics as well as air defence missiles. Smaller corporate jets include another Gulfstream IV TC-ATA, two Gulfstream Vs and two Cessna Citation Vs. When the President of the Turkish Republic is on board any of these aircraft the call-sign is `Turkish Republic One- Heavy`.

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